Records: Dr.’s arrest followed death threats

The doctor who used to work with Anderson County authorities on body-cavity drug searches won’t be working for the county or his former practice anymore.

by The Associated Press

The doctor who used to work with Anderson County authorities on body-cavity drug searches won’t be working for the county or his former practice anymore.

Dr. Michael Anthony LaPaglia, 42, faces drug and gun charges after Knoxville police reported finding marijuana by the pound, drug equipment and nearly 100 prescription pills on Labor Day while investigating a domestic violence complaint at LaPaglia’s home, 10052 Fox Cove Road. His girlfriend claims he threatened to use his medical knowledge to kill her and get rid of her body.

LaPaglia remained free on $31,000 bond Wednesday. He hung up when called.

Records show LaPaglia has practiced medicine for about 11 years, most recently as assistant director of emergency medicine at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, as a practitioner with the TeamHealth medical staffing company and as medical director for Anderson County Emergency Medical Services. The county and TeamHealth said Wednesday they’ve ended all dealings with LaPaglia.

Records show no discipline against LaPaglia during his practice in Tennessee, although he once faced disciplinary action in North Carolina.

While at Methodist Medical Center, court records indicate LaPaglia earned a reputation with law enforcement for a willingness to help with controversial searches for drugs in suspects’ body cavities.

Two of those suspects have sued LaPaglia on federal claims of violating their civil rights. A federal appellate court last month tossed the drug conviction of Felix Booker, found guilty of possessing crack cocaine that LaPaglia removed without Booker’s consent and without a search warrant after sedating Booker and dosing him with a paralyzing drug in 2010. Anderson County deputies brought Booker to the hospital after he resisted a search in jail.

Wayne Antwan Gulley ultimately walked away from drug charges in Anderson County but only after submitting to a rectal search by LaPaglia under arrest by Oak Ridge police and at the threat of being drugged with the same kind of paralyzing cocktail as Booker, according to another lawsuit. The search yielded no drugs, and prosecutors ultimately dropped charges against Gulley.

LaPaglia testified during Booker’s trial he performed at least one other such search for police.

Last Monday’s arrest came after what his girlfriend, Christina Becker, described to Knoxville police as months of threats and harassment. The couple share a son, according to court records.

Becker obtained an order of protection against LaPaglia after his arrest.

“Michael told me that if I ever contacted police for help or reported his drug use, Michael would use his powers as a physician to have me committed to (a) psychiatric facility,” Becker wrote. “Michael stated he would make sure my body wouldn’t be found. Michael stated that he would take my life away.”

Becker told police she went to the house Monday night to get some of her belongings and found the locks changed and LaPaglia apparently high. Knoxville Police Department officers arrived around 11:45 p.m. and reported smelling marijuana in the house while LaPaglia looked for his custody papers.

Officers spotted vials of painkillers, sedatives and muscle relaxants sitting on a shelf in plain view, according to a report.

The girlfriend told police “LaPaglia had threatened to use the contents of the vials to kill her,” KPD Officer David Gerlach wrote in the report.

“LaPaglia stated Becker was delusional and (he) previously attempted to have her committed.”

LaPaglia agreed to let officers look around his basement, where they found traces of marijuana and called in KPD’s Repeat Offender Squad, according to the report. Officers obtained a search warrant and turned up 45 mason jars filled with more than 2 pounds of marijuana, more than 120 pipes and bongs and nearly 100 pills of various kinds, police said, along with a grow light, digital scales, a Glock 9mm pistol and a ledger with names and amounts.

Records show LaPaglia was threatened with sanctions by the North Carolina Medical Board in 2001 on accusations he smoked marijuana and carried on an “unprofessional” relationship with a 16-year-old girl while practicing as a resident in the University of North Carolina’s psychiatry program. The case ended with his license placed on “inactive” status.

LaPaglia was removed and replaced as medical director upon news of his arrest, said Nathaniel Sweet, Anderson County emergency services director. He’d held the job for about two years.

“He didn’t ride on the ambulances, didn’t attend to patients and didn’t have any responsibility for field operations,” Sweet said. “At no point in time is our medical director allowed or provided access to any controlled equipment, supplies or medications.”

TeamHealth ended its contract with LaPaglia at the same time, spokeswoman Melinda Collins said.

“Dr. LaPaglia was an independent contractor physician,” Collins said. “As soon as we confirmed the charges against him, he was removed from the schedule and no longer provides services at any TeamHealth client site.”

Both of the federal lawsuits against LaPaglia remain pending, said Bob Jolley, who represents Booker and Gulley.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.